Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist (KelpiesEdge)

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John Young is a writer who is originally from Belfast and lives in Edinburgh. A former lawyer, he helped to found The Teapot Trust, a children's art therapy charity, with his wife Laura. He was a Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award winner in 2013. Press Articles Despite their former rivalry, Connor and Skeates form an alliance and set out on a road trip (of sorts) to see Connor's dad in prison with a little money and without Connor's seven medications he takes twice a daily to keep his cancer at bay. Terminal Optimist recounts friendship between bully (Skeates) and his victim (Connor) as they run away from Stornaway to Shotts to discover why Connor’s dad spent the past seven years in prison. What act could be so vile that his Mum had to kept it a secret? There’s nothing like withholding information to fire a lad’s determination so he drops everything including his cancer medication to go on this quest. The answer blows that friendship apart then tests its strength as they fight off thugs and the Grim Reaper. It’s an uplifting story but, like life, Connor has his fair share of challenges.

Connor Lambert is 15, lives on a tiny island in Scotland, and has the typical teen issues. Sure he's crushing on his best "girl friend," Emma, and he has daily run-ins with the school bully, Skeates. But Connor is definitely NOT your average teen. His sister died, and his dad's in prison (although his mom refuses to let him visit or even tell him why his dad's been incarcerated for the last 9 years). Oh, and he has cancer. After a particularly painful bout of bullying in physics lab, Connor and Skeates both end up in the hospital. Connor’s mom is out of the picture, and without anyone to care for him, he ends up in Dachaigh House – an institution for violent youths – with Skeates. Dun, dun, dun!When Connor comes home to his neighbor, Mrs. MacDonald because his mother had to stay in Inverness overnight for work:

OMG this book was a major tearjerker for me. Connor and Skeates have an unusual friendship but aren't all friendships? The fact that Connor has terminal cancer but is trying to live his life to the fullest is heart-warming. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this!' At least the adult reader sits there knowing this will not, cannot, end well. But what kind of not well will it be? How soon might Connor die? Or will Skeates or the Glaswegian football supporters kill him before the cancer does? Or maybe the skiing in Aviemore, wearing unsuitable clothes? The joyriding? Despite their former rivalry, Connor and Skeates form an alliance and set out on a road trip (of sorts) to see Connor’s dad in prison with a little money and without Connor’s seven medications he takes twice a daily to keep his cancer at bay. I normally dislike books about dying teens, but this one had me feeling all the feels. I laughed (often), my heart raced during the get-aways, and yes, I even cried. Real tears! The last time a book made me cry was . . . well, I can’t exactly remember, but it was a long time ago. The real beauty of this book is that it’s about two boys on an adventure who form an unlikely alliance and “never give up.” After a particularly painful bout of bullying in physics lab, Connor and Skeates both end up in the hospital. Connor's mom is out of the picture, and without anyone to care for him, he ends up in Dachaigh House - an institution for violent youths - with Skeates. Dun, dun, dun!

I normally dislike books about dying teens, but this one had me feeling all the feels. I laughed (often), my heart raced during the get-aways, and yes, I even cried. Real tears!'